This blog is about life on board our narrowboat Sanity Again, cruising the inland waterways of the UK (mainly in the spring, summer and autumn) and living in a marina in the winter. It's the way I choose to write it; if you don't like it, there are many other boating blogs.

Saturday, 17 January 2015

Better than expected

After a chilly night, it was quite hard work getting going this morning and we only just finished breakfast in time to join the volunteer working party at ten. Our reward was that, rather than the snow flurries in the forecast, it was a superb winter's morning, cold, admittedly, but clear and with not much wind.

The team divided into two halves; Sheila, Jo and Ellie worked on a further clearing of the copse we cleaned up last time, whilst Wynne, Nigel, Bob and your correspondent went into the Heritage Field to clear the undergrowth away from the ditched stream that runs down its west side.

This took up most of the time; by the end, we'd got it pretty clear and could see how the water was backing up at the culvert which leads under the canal into the copse beyond the towpath, the one in which Sally likes to play copse and rompers.

Nigel, Wynne and I went over there and did a bit towards clearing out the stream bed on that side. By the time we'd finished, we'd got some flow going and the level was dropping on the Heritage Field side. On the other hand, the culvert is well choked with mud and silt and to make a big difference would require some serious input with bigger tools than we had.

A session with a mini digger deepening the stream bed on both sides would have a major impact, too.

After lunch, Sheila and I went shopping at Still Waters, buying veg, mostly, and ordering another couple of bags of solid fuel. Since Grahame and Chrissie took over the shop, the stock of fresh veg has noticeably increased. As that's the kind of thing that needs regular shopping, it's a welcome change.

Tonight, I'm going to roast a piece of turkey breast that Elanor got for us at the Moy Park shop and serve it with mashed spud and steamed cauli and broccoli from Still Waters.

Although the toilet tank is only about three quarters full, we plan to get a pump out and fill up with diesel tomorrow; looking at the forecast, I wouldn't be surprised if we were frozen in by mid-week.

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Our eBooks

We've now written four e-books. We have been selling them via Amazon, but we've taken the decision to avoid benefitting from Amazon's tax avoidance strategies. Instead, if you would like a copy of any of these, please email me using the link below, saying which ereader you use. I'll send you a copy in return for a donation to a waterways or cancer charity of your choice.

Building Sanity Again is an account of just that, based on the blog I did whilst it was all going on and with an evaluative chapter added.

A Boater's Commonplace Book is Sheila's compilation of answers to the questions we've been asked during our time as liveaboard boaters such as "Is it cold in the winter?" and "How far have you been?"

Tales from the Towpath is another of Sheila's compilations, this time of all the funny things that have happened to us on the waterways over the last 35 years plus, together with some stories we've only heard about.

Practically Cooking on Board is my cookbook, using ingredients and equipment reasonably readily available to the boater. No sous vide or liquid nitrogen here!

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Cruising plan: Spring and Summer 2017

After a winter in the marina, we plan to set off again at the beginning of April, heading for Stourport, the Severn and then the Droitwich. Then we'll make our way back via Tardebigge, Lapworth and Hatton to arrive at Crick in good time for the Show.

After that, we may well head back north to the Llangollen, aiming to arrive at Poynton in late August for the Owners' Weekend and Open Day.